Costa Rica is a country with many kinds of music. Their music has beats to it, and the songs are really original. The music genres include the indigenous calypso, and disco type music, that are now played in nightclubs. Indigenous calypso is like a type of themed-music, like the Trinidadian calypso. This was used by Trinidad slaves to communicate stories to one another. As much as the Costa Rican music sounds fascinating, they don’t get much international credit. Also, one of the huge influences for the Costa Rican music, is Mexican music, but also a small diverse mix of African and European expressions.
During the 20th century, Costa Rica was exposed to way too much to the Mexican culture, so the music and the culture was greatly impacted, and changed. The African music had more of an influence on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast, and the music became more based on complex percussion rhythms, and uses of marimba. The music there is played with lots of drums and banjos, and a local rhythm called sinkit, cuadrille, a kind of maypole dance. However, calypso (kind of tropical) and reggae (strong beat), are the dominate types of music.
Marimba
Maypole Dance
The marimba is both a musical instrument, and a type of music. They are wooden bars, tuned to play a chromatic scale. What may as well be the center of folk music in Costa Rica, is the Guanacaste region. It is where many well known folk music came from, which are still popular today. In folkloric music, some pre-Columbian instruments are used. These are the oboe, quijongo (single string bow and gour), used and popularized. The music of Costa Rica uses a rhythm called tambito, and a genera called punto. The guitar is a popular instrument, especially when it accompanies folk dances, such as Punto Guanacaste, which is now the national dance. There is also now, a peña tradition, in which friends meet to share moving songs with each, and where wine and tears flow.
Costa Rica
Flag of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a country with many kinds of music. Their music has beats to it, and the songs are really original. The music genres include the indigenous calypso, and disco type music, that are now played in nightclubs. Indigenous calypso is like a type of themed-music, like the Trinidadian calypso. This was used by Trinidad slaves to communicate stories to one another. As much as the Costa Rican music sounds fascinating, they don’t get much international credit. Also, one of the huge influences for the Costa Rican music, is Mexican music, but also a small diverse mix of African and European expressions.During the 20th century, Costa Rica was exposed to way too much to the Mexican culture, so the music and the culture was greatly impacted, and changed. The African music had more of an influence on the Costa Rica Caribbean Coast, and the music became more based on complex percussion rhythms, and uses of marimba. The music there is played with lots of drums and banjos, and a local rhythm called sinkit, cuadrille, a kind of maypole dance. However, calypso (kind of tropical) and reggae (strong beat), are the dominate types of music.
The marimba is both a musical instrument, and a type of music. They are wooden bars, tuned to play a chromatic scale. What may as well be the center of folk music in Costa Rica, is the Guanacaste region. It is where many well known folk music came from, which are still popular today. In folkloric music, some pre-Columbian instruments are used. These are the oboe, quijongo (single string bow and gour), used and popularized. The music of Costa Rica uses a rhythm called tambito, and a genera called punto. The guitar is a popular instrument, especially when it accompanies folk dances, such as Punto Guanacaste, which is now the national dance. There is also now, a peña tradition, in which friends meet to share moving songs with each, and where wine and tears flow.
Local Music of Costa Rica:
Works Cited:
http://www.fundraw.com/clipart/clip-art/706/Flag-of-Costa-Rica/
http://www.costarica.net/features/culture.htm
http://www.costarica.com/culture/costa-rican-music/
http://www.costaricatraveller.com/about_costa_rica/music.htm
http://www.laparios.com/instruments.html
http://dhob187.deviantart.com/art/costa-rican-Guitar-22931121
http://www.uni.edu/dance/photos2002.shtml
By: Veronica and Man